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Discussion » Questions » Animals (Wild) » My wife found one of these today. It's called a wheel bug. (A true bug.) Have you ever seen one? USA and Canada only.

My wife found one of these today. It's called a wheel bug. (A true bug.) Have you ever seen one? USA and Canada only.

Posted - October 28, 2019

Responses


  • 10451
    I have never seen anything like that around here but it kind of looks like a Praying Mantis. Cheers! 
      October 28, 2019 11:33 AM MDT
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  • 46117
    I see what you mean, Nanoose.  Also what is that armored plate on its back with the cogs like a half wheel. I bet that is why it got it's name.
      October 28, 2019 11:40 AM MDT
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  • 44175
    Zackly.
      October 28, 2019 2:00 PM MDT
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  • 44175
    It is only found east of the Mississippi. Odd you should mention the mantis. They are closely related.
      October 28, 2019 2:00 PM MDT
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  • 10451
    This fall I have started seeing Praying mantis in my area I have never seen them in this area or on the Island  before so I think something is up like globule warming and the food chain. Cheers!
      October 28, 2019 2:10 PM MDT
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  • 44175
    Could be. Mantids are found around the globe.
      October 28, 2019 2:14 PM MDT
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  • 46117
    I have seen them.  I thought it was a leaf-hopper thingie.  Look at how amazing that construction is on that body. Just marvelous.  This is what we picture aliens to look like.
      October 28, 2019 11:38 AM MDT
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  • 22853
    Yup!
    :)

    Image result for Alien creature movie
      October 28, 2019 12:00 PM MDT
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  • 46117
    My small brain just caught on to why it is called a wheel bug, Welb. It is that cog thing on his back.  It looks like a half of a wheel with cogs.  So bizarre. I wonder what it is for.  
      October 28, 2019 12:52 PM MDT
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  • 22853
    I thought the same thing.
    :)
      October 28, 2019 12:56 PM MDT
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  • 44175
    It is there for us to wonder about. Nature has infinite things to wonder about. That's one of the benefits of retirement.
      October 28, 2019 5:48 PM MDT
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  • 44175
    They are not native to Arizona.
      October 28, 2019 2:01 PM MDT
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  • 22853
    I haven't no. Cool-looking!
    :)
      October 28, 2019 12:00 PM MDT
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  • 22853
    Upon a closer second look, I'm wondering if I may have seen these before.
      October 28, 2019 12:04 PM MDT
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  • 2836
    Yes, I have seen them. It's my understanding that they will climb into the anus of mammals while they sleep and lay eggs. 
    The eggs hatch and the larvae work it's a way through the inner organs feeding off scraps of undigested meat and fatty tissue.
    This marvel of nature then embeds itself to the walls of the digestive system.  Once the insect reaches maturation, it exits the chrysalis as a fully formed adult.  It then seeks an exit from the body. Curiously, it does so by honing in on the bladder where it follows the urinary tract using it like a game-trail.  With its highly sensitive receptors to sense uric acid,  detecting the flow of urine, it burrows through soft flesh until it exits through the urethra where it beings it's wonderous life-cycle anew.

    This post was edited by Jon at October 28, 2019 2:02 PM MDT
      October 28, 2019 12:30 PM MDT
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  • 46117
    One of those anus-hatched eggs is sitting in the Oval Office in the best seat in the nation. This post was edited by WM BARR . =ABSOLUTE TRASH at October 28, 2019 1:13 PM MDT
      October 28, 2019 12:48 PM MDT
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  • 2836
    Here we see Donald rolling out his new tax plan
      October 28, 2019 1:14 PM MDT
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  • 44175
    Sicko...LOL
      October 28, 2019 2:03 PM MDT
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  • 6023
    The poor insect.
    According to the photo, they aren't allowed to reproduce.

    HA!
      October 28, 2019 2:30 PM MDT
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  • 4631
    Fascinating.
    I looked him up on Wiki - Arilus cristatus.
    Looks like they're quite beneficial as predators of pests that attack some crops.
      October 28, 2019 8:12 PM MDT
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  • 1817
    nope but id murder it if I saw it 
      November 9, 2019 8:19 PM MST
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